Product Details

• Directors: Hilary Audus
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Video
• VHS Release Date: October 6, 1998
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305042772
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #248,192 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Bear
Raymond Briggs's popular children's book The Bear is neither as famous nor as cherished as his popular tale The Snowman. Both wintertime stories allow a child to go on a fantasy journey, and more importantly, both videos embrace a lost art: the wordless narrative. Tilly spies a new polar bear at a London zoo. That night she dreams the bear visits her house. Besides being a good snuggler, the bear presents many problems to Tilly--from leaving droppings around the house to being a challenge to bathe. Soon Tilly and the bear ride through the crisp Christmastime night, encountering another magical bear--Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper. Briggs's elegant message of friendship is beautifully brought to life in this 25-minute production featuring music by Howard Blake.

The Animal Train
Little Ben receives a gentle lesson about conservation in this 1999 BBC-Miramax co-production based on John Burlingham's book Oi! Get Off Our Train. After staying up a bit too late watching a TV show about endangered animals with his folks, Ben dreams of a magical place where he, and his trusty stuffed dog Jim Jam, are in charge of a train that winds though the earth's habitats. Young viewers Pre-K to elementary school age are introduced to clear-cutting, poachers, and other issues that are endangering animals around the world. Burlingham's wonderful color palette makes the 29-minute short wonderful to look at, while the talking animals have enough personality to insure that kids will demand repeated viewings. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars all the kids love The Bear, January 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Raymond Briggs' The Bear [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have a 4 1/2 year old and 3 year old and we all have enjoyed watching this video for endless hours. We got it when the kids were younger, and the nice thing is, it doesn't matter if the kids can't talk yet because athe scenes and music tell the story without words. My husband and I enjoy it. Everyone who has seen this video at our house has asked how to get it. Even the grownups have their eyes glued to the screen.

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This film is stunning., December 25, 2001

By 

Danny French (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Raymond Briggs' The Bear [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I don't think these reviews really give the impression of how simply beautiful this film is. In 1998 when the film premiered on Channel 4 I was fourteen - there is no age barrier for The Bear. The visual imagery is in a class of its own, and Howard Blake's score must surely rate as one of the most heartfelt and beautiful of the last decade.

It's really hard for me to convey my enthusiasm for this picture - suffice it so say that, in my opinion, it surpasses The Snowman.

Do buy this film. Whether you're eight or eighty it will enchant. I'm off to watch it again.

Danny,
London, UK

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disney changed it for the worse., December 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Raymond Briggs' The Bear/The Animal Train (DVD)

The Bear originally did (as stated in the Amazon editorial review information) "embrace a lost art: the wordless narrative." That is what you get when purchasing the VHS version of this wonderful short film. However, when Buena Vista Home Video (Disney) got a hold of it for the DVD they added narration and sound effects. The film suffers for these changes. I own the VHS version and have enjoyed it as an adult and with my children. I was excited to learn of a DVD version and ordered it as soon as it was available. However, I am disappointed in these changes and encourage you to purchase the VHS over the DVD.

As for The Animal Train it is pleasant enough and my 3 year old, who loves trains, has watched it repeatedly. But, it is not in the same class as The Bear (the original VHS version).